A council is refusing to honour an Ilkeston grandad’s last request after rejecting the epitaph he had planned for his headstone - because it's too rude.

Maurice Brown died after a brave battle with cancer in August. His grandson, Lewis Ryan, found inspiration for what should go on his headstone when he was sorting out Mr Brown's belongings and discovered a poem.

It was written by his grandad and said: "When I am laid to rest with a tombstone upon my chest, the six words I would like to see are 'the little bugger did his best'."

But, when Lewis submitted the Epitaph "the little bugger did his best" to Erewash Borough Council he was distressed to find it wouldn't be allowed.

Lewis, 20, who works at a bar in Eastwood and lives in Ilkeston, had wanted the headstone where his grandad's ashes are buried in Park Road Cemetery.

Maurice Brown on the left with wife Gene and son Richard on the right (Image: Lewis Ryan)

But Dave Bramwell, the borough council’s head of green space and street scene, said: “We understand the sentiment here and the personal memories involved for the family. However, this is not appropriate language in what is a public cemetery.”

Lewis said: “My grandfather was always joking. He never took anything seriously. He could even joke about the amount of time he had left to live.